K-State QBs: Klein, Lamur, Tuggle

Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein excelled as a runner in 2010, but the junior is determined to show he can
pass, too. “It’s not necessarily a chip on my shoulder,” he says, “but it’s definitely something I want to prove.”

MANHATTAN — Take this for what it's worth, but Kansas State's quarterbacks apparently unleashed an aerial onslaught during a full-scale scrimmage Saturday.

"We took some forward steps in regards to our passing game," coach Bill Snyder said. "Our quarterbacks collectively threw for over 600 and some odd yards, so they took a positive step forward for most of the scrimmage."

Take this for what it's worth, too, but Snyder said junior Collin Klein currently sits atop the depth chart, followed by Sammuel Lamur and Justin Tuggle.

"We still have two practices to define that, but if we were going to have the spring game tomorrow or today, Collin would step on the field first," Snyder said Tuesday. "Sammuel would step on the field second, and Justin would be on there third. That's the pecking order as we sit today."

K-State's spring game is Saturday, and barring a late change of heart, Klein will work with the first-string offense. Fans will remember him as the quarterback who piled up rushing yards last season, but Klein is anxious to demonstrate his abilities as a passer.

"It's not necessarily a chip on my shoulder, but it's definitely something I want to prove," Klein said. "I understood my role last year, with Carson (Coffman) and I working together and me bringing a physical presence to the running game. But that's not all of the type of player I am."

Klein spent the winter studying his mechanics on film and has worked with quarterbacks coach Del Miller to quicken his release.

The dividends have been apparent this spring, Snyder said.

"I thought he threw the ball in the scrimmage the other day quite well with nice touch on the ball," Snyder said. "He put the ball in some difficult places to complete passes."

Reports are harder to obtain on Tuggle, the Blinn College transfer who was expected to push Klein for the starting job.

"He's a great athlete," Klein said. "I've really enjoyed getting to know him. He's a great guy, it seems like."

Like Klein, Tuggle is working to become a more consistent passer. He completed 55 percent of his passes at Blinn last season with 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Though Tuggle has slipped to the No. 3 spot, little separation exists among the quarterbacks, Snyder said.

Though spring games are notoriously bland, the quarterbacks should have the chance to display their passing skills. All three will call their own plays, Snyder said, which shows how much of the offense they can comfortably command.

"It gives me a better understanding of what our quarterbacks really feel comfortable doing, what they like to do, what they feel they can do the best," Snyder said. "If I'm the quarterback, I'm not going to call something I don't think I'm very good at."

INJURIES DISRUPT SPRING CAMP

K-State has "quite a few young guys" who will miss the spring game with injuries, Snyder said, though he declined to provide the list.

"We've had kind of a disruptive spring," Snyder said. "We've had some family issues with a number of our players and coaches, for that matter, that they've had to tend to and obviously couldn't practice or meet.

"We've worked through it and worked through it very, very well."

RUN DEFENSE SOLID IN SCRIMMAGE

Those gaudy passing numbers may have been influenced by K-State's run defense, which surrendered only 3.4 yards per rush in Saturday's scrimmage, Snyder said.

"That was a step forward in regards to the defense, because we kind of have the tag of not defending well against the run," Snyder said. "I thought they did a pretty decent job in that respect."

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the legendary one wants to see him playing with the twos against the first team defense. lamur is second only because he won't see much time behind klein on saturday. this qb race will come down to klein v. tuggle. both have potential in snyder's run/pass offense. emaw.